Key holder



Jqly 29, 1952 H. J. LE BLANC KEY HOLDER Filed June 16, 1950 INVENTOR.

WWW A T TORN E Y-S.

Patented July 29, 1 952 "UNITED S'TATES' PAT ENT' Q F .KEY HOLDER ware Applicationj lune 16,1950, Serial No. 168,592

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a key holder of the type used for assembling keys thereon, by threading the key holder through an opening in the key.

Key holders have been variously formed and usually require some sort of manipulation by the fingers in order that the keysmay be placed upon the holder or removed therefrom. The key holder is relatively small and frequently the portions to 'beengage'd between the fingers are small and difiicult .to .be manipulated.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a key holder which may be manipulated by a key which is positioned on the key holder, thus supporting a better grip of the finger on the key for actuating the key holder.

Another object of the invention is to use the key which is placed on the holder as a tool for manipulating the key holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide relatively sliding parts which may be so locked in the open or closed position to which they are moved.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple construction and one which may be easily manufactured and assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder which will lend itself to being formed in an attractive appearance, and thus become an article of jewelry.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the key holder with the key thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the key holder showing in dotted lines a fragmental portion of a key.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manipulation of the key holder by a key.

Figure '7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a pair of generally circular members with their.

ends spaced a sufficient distance so that a key may be passed between them. These members are located concentrically, one within the other so that when their spaced ends are in substantial registry, a key may be passed through both ends and one end of both members may be passed through an opening in the key, after which the members may be shifted in position so that their openings -or s'paced ends are out of reg istry :and thekey isheld on :the holder. Further,

I provide a projection onone memb'er extending' somewhat'into the :path of movement of the keyso that the 'key-may be used-to engage this member and force one member relative to the" other member which isheld in the hand;

chain orother. tetheringsmeans; J

Withreferencerrto the drawingspilihaveishown an outer .acircular member. t0 'Wih iChiiS; generally U-shaped in 1611055. section, as ishownin' ffigllllei and has spaced-ends. H and L2,}. sea-shown in Figure 2.

The second or inner circular member is designated l4 and is of a cross sectional shape as shown in Figure 4 with a rounded or semicircular portion l5 to fit the inner arc of the U of the outer member for slidable engagement therewith while its inner edge at I6 is grounded and provided with portions I! to abut the edges l8 of the U-shaped outer member, and form with this outer member a generally elliptical or oval section, such as shown by the periphery of the outline of Figure 4. This inner member 14 is also provided with spaced ends l9 and 20 which will substantially align with the spaced ends H and [2, such as shown in Figure 2 so as to provide spaces 2! and 22 between these pairs of ends for the reception of a key 23 having an opening 24 therein so that the combined ends 12 and 20 or H and 19 may be placed through the opening 24, to position the key thereon.

A slot 25 (Figure 3) is provided in the outer member [0, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and a projection or stop 26 is located on the inner member [4 to project into this slot and provide a limit 21 at one end and 28 at the other for the limiting of the movement of the inner member with reference to the outer member. At one limit of this movement, the spaces 21 and 22 will align, as shown in Figure 2 while at the other limit they will be out of alignment, as shown in Figure 1. A cap 30 covers the slot and projections 25 and 26 so as to hide the same from view and is formed with a loop 3| through which a link 32 may be positioned for attaching a chain or other tether 33. This cap also provides a good handle for holding the outer member in the hand, as shown in Figure 6, while opening the holder.

A projection 35 is located to extend radially inwardly from the inner member l4 and is in such position that it may be engaged by the margin of the opening 24 of the key so that the key may be used, as shown in Figure 6, to engage this projection 35 and slide the inner member with reference to the outer member from the position shown in Figures 2 and 6 to the position shown in Figure 1. The opening 24 in the key is usually of such size as to be passed over the projection 35 so that the key may be used to move the member I4 in either direction.

The member I4 is provided with spaced depressions 36 and 31 while the member ID is provided with a projection 38 which may enter the recess 36 when in the position shown in Figure 2 while it will enter the recess or depression 31 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 thus the members may be locked in either open or closed position.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a member formed on the arc of a circle with spaced ends, said memher having a recess in one of its circular edges and a slot extending circularly thereof and a second member on the same are located in said recess and having spaced ends to register with the space between the ends of the first member and a pin extending into said slot and engageable with its opposite ends, said members having a combined cross section of a dimension to thread into an opening in a key for positioning a key on both members, and means to relatively slide said members until said pin engages one end of the slot, said parts being so located as to thereby cause said spaced ends to be in registry for positioning a key thereon and a cap on the first member to conceal the pin from access.

2. A key holder as in claim 1 wherein a pro-' jeotion is located on the second of the members to be engaged by a key to move said member while holding the first member in the hand.

3. A key holder comprising a member formed on the arc of a circle with spaced ends and U-shaped in cross section forming a recess along its inner circular edge, a second member on the same arc located in said recess and conforming to the shape thereof with shoulders shaped to engage the edge of the U cross section of the first member and provide a smooth surface of generally elliptical cross section, said second member also having spaced ends to register with the space of the first member, said members being relatively slidable to locate the spaced ends to and from registry for positioning a key thereon and locking it so positioned.

HENRY J. LE BLANC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 338,268 Henry Mar. 23, 1886 586,407 Walton July 13, 1897 1,052,802 Dean Feb. 11, 1913 2,206,052 Schoeninger July 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 50,146 Sweden Oct. 5, 1921 

